Tooth cleaner



P 1952 s. w. SAM 76 TOOTH CLEANER Filed 00 30, 1951 Fay. INVENTOR. v M M Mrw By Jauuu 63 m Jr/Mma', JAM 146mm 34M Patented Sept. 30, 1952 UNITED sFlT-ATES PATENT OFFICE} 2,612,116 I I. H j 1 v froo rn CLEANER ssainrw m m. G. icaeQ;:1I l- .aiz aa q .oe nr .95.1;fia a gliq fifififii 17 :Glaims. 1

The invention-relates -to a tooth cleaner-which is a substitute 'for dental floss V and tooth picks. Tl-iisapplicatioii-is a oontinuation-in-part of-my ;copen 'di-ng application for Tooth Cleaner, ;Serial "Number -76,-050,-file d February 12,- L949, and-now --abandcned.

;preferred form of the tooth cleaner; I p ure 2 is an axial sectional-view of analternative form of the tooth cleaner; and

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Figure 3 is a right cross-sectional view of the tube I along plane A-A.

In Figure 1 is shown a tube 5 assembled ready for use on a U-frame and secured to U-frame I by a pair of suitable rubber bands 3. U-frame I has a handle 6 and a pair of coaxial, cylindrical cores 4. Each core 4 is rigidly fastened to each end of U-frame I and projects perpendicularly, transversely in opposite directions inwardly and outwardly from each end of U-frame I. Tube 5 which is made of natural rubber latex and is extremely thin has a principal horizontal portion both ends of which are closed. The principal horizontal portion of tube 5 has a pair of lateral apertures. Each aperture is located near each closed end of the principal horizontal portion of tube 5. Tube 5 also has a pair of transversely, vertically, perpendicularly extending short tubes 2. An edge of the inner end of each transversely extending tube 2 is integral with the edge of each lateral aperture of the principal horizontal portion of tube 5. The outer end of each transversely extending tube 2 is flared to facilitate the assembly of tube 5 on cores 4 together with the ends of adjacent to A the principal horizontal portion of tube -5 .anderouhd each end -of uai-rame A gasjacentkto leach core..4.. The. assembly. .of..-each lendhof U.=frame :I and .each coret 4'. thuszehaveia form which. .enablesthe internal surface of-geaeh endl.of. the principal horizontal portion ot ,rlillbe 25:;31L9gl0l111iil35 axis-itozbe: convenientlymm 1 zt iaaeri bera he axi -lo a with the pair of core 4 edltension between and spanning across cores 4. The opposite lateral walls of the intermediate portion of tube 5 are drawn together in contact while the intermediate portion of tube 5 is being inserted between two adjacent teeth and spread apart as much as space permits in the space between the two adjacent teeth next to the gums which space is normally wider than the rest of the space between the two adjacent teeth. The intermediate portion of tube 5 is thus automatically thick or thin when necessary.

The intermediate portion of tube 5 is inserted between the teeth in a manner similar to the insertion of dental floss which is held in a U-frame. Tube 5 together with its transversely extending tubes 2 is essentially a single tube each of whose open flared ends envelops the inwardly projecting portion of each core 4 together with each end of U-frame I. The portions of tube 5 which envelop the outwardly projecting portions of cores 4 may be properly viewed as projecting distortions of an ordinary cylindrical tube with flared ends which projecting distortions are located intermediate the open flared ends of the latter tube. The outwardly projecting portions of cores 4 may be eliminated with not much disadvantage and then the ends of a short length of ordinary cylindrical tubing could envelop the inwardly projecting portions of cores 4 together with the ends of U-frame I. Rubber bands 3 would then hold securely the ordinary cylindrical tube as they hold tube 5.

In Figure 2 is shown a tube I assembled ready for use on a U-frame I. Tube I is made of natural rubber latex and is extremely thin. Tube 1 has both ends closed and a longitudinally extending narrow lateral opening 8. The closed ends of tube 1 are securely held by cores 4. The portion of tube 1 intermediate cores 4 is stretched taut under elastic tension while tube 1 is assembled on cores 4 of U-frame I. In use the portion of tube 1 intermediate cores 4 is inserted between the teeth in a manner similar to the insertion 'of the intermediate portion of tube 5. Tubes 5 and I are short, slender, extremely thin, supple, soft, stretchable and elastic.

U-frame l is made of a suitable metal. It also be made of a suitable plastic.

I claim: 1. A tooth cleaner comprising a short, slender, thin, supple, stretchable, elastic, soft tube with closed ends and a longitudinally extending narrow opening, said tube being adapted to serve as a substitute for dental floss. 2. A- tooth cleaner comprising a short, slender, thin, supple, stretchable, elastic, soft, principal tube having a pair of small lateral apertures located near each end of said principal tube, said tooth cleaner also comprising a pair of transversely extending, short, slender, thin, supple, stretchable, elastic tubes, an edge of the inner end of each of said transversely extending tubes being integral with the-edge of each of said apertures, said principal tube being adapted to serve as a substitute for dental floss.

3. A tooth cleaner as set forth in claim 2 wherein -the outer end of each of said transversely ex- -"tending-tubes is flared.

4. 'A tooth cleaner comprising a short, slender, thin, supple, stretchable, elastic, soft tube with both 'ends closed, said tube having a pair of small lateral apertures located near each of said closed may serve as a, substitute for dental floss.

5. A tooth cleaner comprising a short, slender, thin, supple, stretchable, elastic, soft, principal tube with both ends closed, said principal tube having a pair of small lateral apertures located near each of said closed ends of said principal tube, said tooth cleaner also comprising a, pair of transversely extending, short, slender, thin, supple, stretchable, elastic tubes, an edge of the inner end of each of said transversely extending tubes being integral with the edge of each of said apertures, said principal tube being adapted to serve as a substitute for dental floss.

6. A tooth cleaner as set forth in claim 5 wherein the outer end of each of said transversely extending tubes is flared.

7. Adapted for use with a tooth cleaner as set forth in claim 5, in combination, a U-frame member, and a pair of short slender core members, each of said core members being fastened securely to each end of said Li -frame member and projecting transversely therefrom, each of said core members being enveloped by each of said closed ends of said principal tube and lying longitudinally in said principal tube and each of said ends of said. U-frame member being enveloped by each of said transversely extending tubes when said principal and transversely extending tubes are assembled with said pair of core members and said U-frame member.

SAM WOMEN SAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 736,650 Storms Aug. 18, 1903 788,947 Roth May 2, 1905 

